VI form options-keeping the options open/ possible interior design career.

[BrigitBigKnickers]

DD is awaiting her GCSE results. She has provisional places at three VI forms.

Her A level choices are English language, Psychology, Graphic design and Maths. She has changed her mind quite a few times about the courses she wants to do e.g. changed from English lit to lang, photography back to maths etc.

She visited one VI form for induction days this week and now has her heart set on doing photography instead of maths. She is quite good at maths and loves it too(predicted A grade)-we have a maths tutor on tap for extra help when needed (DH has a degree in maths.) However I am very aware that A level maths is a big step up from GCSE.

The previous results for the photography course are not great- last year 78% of the students got a D or below... although the A level results for the VIth form as a whole are very good.

She is a good average- set to get Bs with a few As but very very very hardworking. Not quite sure what she wants to do but thinking something in the interior design field. I do rather worry that this is rather a whim- I would have thought that someone interested in this field might have a portfolio of ideas- read interior design magazines etc. which she doesn't. She is good at graphics (predicted A/A*) but not really "artistic" IUSWIM. Didn't do GCSE art etc.

She is very indecisive at the moment- she did some work experience in a school last week and loved it- asked me if I thought her options would fit going into teaching (this is what I do.)

The concern I have is regarding whether she will limit her options for higher education if she does photography and then changes her mind about interior design. She wants to go to university but will not be aiming for Russel group and the like as she is not really academic enough.

How would her A levels be viewed by Unis?

I know nothing about interior design- is it hard to get into?

Anyone got any opinions?

Help!

There is a very good book called Degree Course Offers by Brian Heap:

Here is the latest. It is expensive but for research purposes an older copy would be fine. It is arranged by degree subject, details what institutions offer the subject and what the offers were. It is very useful for guiding students towards the right institutions for expected results.

Given that your DD is not really sure yet what she wants to take forward my simplistic view would be to have a fairly broad range to keep as many options open as possible eg

English
Maths
Psychology
Graphic Design

Maths is hard work but it is one of those subjects you never regret having.

It would be well worth looking at the syllabus for each subject she is considering and then she can see what each really entails. My DD1 did this and as a result dropped all thought of History as the main focus wasnt of interest to her.

Your DD could look to take forward up to 5 subjects to AS and then drop 2 for the A2 stage. This would keep more options open for longer.

Thanks- that is my opinion. The photography worries me as the results are so poor and I don't know if it because it is viewed as a "soft" a level that some less able students tend to take or if it is because the teaching isn't very good. I

I will look into the book you mentioned.

She doesn't have the option to do 5 ASs but they have to do the extended project which apparently is favoured by many unis.

Any more opinions gratefully received- especially about Interior design as a career.

I wouldn't recommend the photography A level - I think it would be seen as "soft". If she really needs to know more about photography to get into Interior Design, then she can always do a course at night class. The four suggested by Gnomedeplume sound good to me

I know- but she is quite a determined 16 year old and is telling me it is not my decision to make- I am having a hard time trying to persuade her not to limit her choices.

I know how she feels though- I was forced to study subjects I wasn't interested in when I was younger and still feel resentful that I wasn't allowed to do what I really wanted. But things were different in those days- we live in a seriosly more competetive world than the one I grew up in.

I really am not sure how serious she is about interior design. It seems more something she fancies doing without really knowing much about it rather than a long standing passion.

I know a number of pupils who have gone to do arty courses at VIth form and have ended up with no degree courses and no job at the end of it.

This parenting lark doesn't get any easier does it.

Well at a good private school only maths would be classed as a good A level in that little lot. (May be psychology as an added extra) . English language is not done by good schools really. English lit is the one that would count and the other two are soft options you don't touch with a barge poll but there are big differences between state and private schools and she may well want to go to an ex poly with low A level grades and have a fairly low paid career. English and maths are an unsual combination so not a good idea really.

My DH works with some of the worlds leading interior designers he is often appalled by the fact that they can't draw something he would have though was a prerequisite for the job. It is a very difficult industry especially at the minute a lot hangs on who you are not what you know and certainly In his area high end clients can be exceedingly difficult I think he would say that many interior designers don't find it's all it's cracked up to be. She would proabaly benefit from some work experience to help her make up mind.

Xenia puts it with characteristic bluntness, but I am inclined to agree that from the OP's list Maths is the most rigorous subject. English Language is perceived as a softer option than English Literature and is not included on the Russell Group's list of "facilitating subjects" which keep options open. This is the list:
? Mathematics and Further Mathematics
? English (Literature)
? Physics
? Biology
? Chemistry
? Geography
? History
? Languages (Classical and Modern)
The Russell Group's publication Informed Choices can be found here:
www.russellgroup.ac.uk/media/informed-choices/InformedChoices-latest.pdf

Hmm- didn't know that about English language- I am going to have a fight on my hands I think- she doesn't really like English lit but has loved the English language GCSE. She is actually at a private school and they don't do the English lang a level- now I know why!

I think I will win on the Photography- she has already admitted she can do it as an evening class if she wants to go on to do interior design.

If she decides to go into primary school teaching- I think the English and Maths will be good ones even if they don't go together as such .

There's no talking her out of Graphics- it is her favourite and best subject and is the main one to lead her into interior design if she ultimately wants to do that.

Absolutely no point in doing sciences either as she is neither interested or strong in these subjects.

I do rather resent your implication though that she is destined for a poor degree and a low paid job. She is a good average academicly but a very very hard worker who has fantastic interpersonal skills. Not everyone can be an academic and I know plenty of non academics in well paid jobs...

Absolutely and in fact as someone said above with interior design it is often connections with help as much as going to Oxbridge. get her posh rich friends, get her friends who know rich Russians or film stars and take it from there. Perhaps it's accent, class and your peer group that really gets you on in interior design,...

"get her posh rich friends, get her friends who know rich Russians or film stars and take it from there. Perhaps it's accent, class and your peer group that really gets you on in interior design,..."
Well Xenia its not often that we agree but in this case from what I understand from my long suffering (of interior designers) DH that is exactly the case. Its all designer handbags and mood boards and the she's the daughter of a friend etc etc. Nicky Haslam aside whose not everyones cup of tea my DH says most could design an IKEA kitchen let alone a £20 000 London penthouse.

could not design an Ikea kitchen.
Really must go on that proof reading course!!

I teach both a level English lit and language. Lit is more highly regarded and a lot closer to what she will be used to from GCSE English. There is a fair amount of reading obviously - but in reality there are only 9 set texts over the 2 years, so v manageable. Lang is a peculiar one - quite technical and in many ways more like a social science than "English" as she will recognise it. Lots of investigations, consideration of how society influences how we speak and write etc. Interesting, but in my view tougher than lit.

Interesting sassy-So if it's tougher than lit why is it so poorly regarded?

Thanks happygardening- that is helpful- makes me more determined to push for the English lit and maths.

I think probably because it is a mish mash of linguistics, grammar, creative writing and sociology - I e not a "real" subject in its own right. I'm a reader so I guess I'd always find lit easier.

Sounds alot more interesting than analysing texts to death to be honest...

I would strongly recommend the Brian Heap book to help your DD start to focus on courses/institutions which are within her grasp. Non-Russell Group university doesnt mean a bad university, it means a university which doesnt focus on research. Given your DD's current preferences I dont think that a non-research university will be an issue!

Funnily enough not going to a Russell Group university will not be condemning your DD to a career as an unemployed hod carrier!

Another career thought for your DD, how about architecture? Graphic design would I think give some good skills for that.

I would have thought English & Maths would be an excellent combination for any teacher.

Xenia has some very odd and narrow views about measures of success and has an unfortunate way of expressing them. Many people are extremely successful in their careers but dont earn much. Scientists tend to fall into this category especially where their skill lies in research.

I agree architecture might be a better prospect for your DD - especially as she's good at maths, which might make the technical/calculating side of things easier for her to grasp.

Has no one suggested further maths as an option? From what I've seen with my DS it's not too onerous on top of the 'normal' syllabus and it would give her more academic clout.

And, fwiw, an a-level in graphic design is not necessary in order to study it at degree level. I know that (what used to be art) colleges now accept a-level students, but the best route must surely still be a foundation course post a-level? If she really wants a 'design' career, she could do this after her a-levels. It would give her a general intro to different types of art and design, and after a term or two she'll either know herself or be guided towards which area most interests her/will suit her. But if she's got sensible a-levels under her belt she'll keep her options open. wishes had been told this at 18

Maybe take her around your nearest college to look at the foundation provision; all that undiluted mess and artiness might knock dead any fostering design aspirations!